Monday, March 07, 2005 ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) - Riot police Sunday used truncheons and tear gas to break up a group of leftist demonstrators who refused to disperse during an unauthorized demonstration marking the upcoming World Women's Day.
Police were seen chasing and beating demonstrators with clubs. One woman demonstrator was knocked to the ground by police officers, then kicked in the face by another officer.
Policemen in gas masks could also be seen spraying tear gas directly onto demonstrators' faces.
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
Police at first called on the group of about 300 demonstrators to disperse, and all but a group of about 100 left peacefully. The demonstrators had been chanting: "Equal pay for equal work," and "We won't be intimidated, we will resist."
A few thousand demonstrators, most women, took part in an authorized demonstration in Istanbul on Saturday to draw attention to women's rights ahead of the March 8 World Women's Day. Police did not intervene.
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